weekly print edition
DAILY FORTY-NINER CELEBRATING 70 YEARS
Vol. LXXI, Issue 14
www.daily49er.com
Monday, December 2, 2019
CLUB RIPPLES’ LAST CALL
Inside the
Niner
PAGES 6 AND 7
NEWS Mending the ‘Mid
SPORTS Right on target
PAGE 5
PAGE 11
2
MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | STAFF@DAILY49ER.COM ON THE COVER Patrons at Club Ripples, the historic bar that served as a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community, celebrates its ‘End of an Era” party Saturday, Nov. 30.
Weekly Calendar Monday 12/2
Tuesday 12/3 ASI Pre-Kwanzaa Celebration @ USU Ballrooms 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Wednesday 12/4
Thursday 12/5
ASI ASI Movies on Movies on the House: the House: IT Chapter IT Chapter Two @ Beach Two @ Beach Auditorium Auditorium 6 p.m. & 6 p.m. & 9 p.m. 9 p.m. ASI Farmers Market Friendship Walk @ 10 a.m. 2 p.m.
Photo by AUSTIN BRUMBLAY
Friday 12/6
Saturday 12/7
Sunday 12/8
Sports
Sports
Sports
WBB at Santa Clara Santa Calar, Calif. 5 p.m.
MBB v. Pacific @ Walter Pyramid 4 p.m.
WBB at Seattle Seattle, Wash. 2 p.m.
Daily Forty-Niner 1250 Bellflower Blvd., LA4-203 Long Beach, CA, 90840
Editorial Office Phone (562) 985-8000
Business Office Phone (562) 985-1740
Austin Brumblay Editor in Chief eic@daily49er.com
Paula Kiley
Multimedia Managing Editor multimedia@daily49er.com News Editor Rachel Barnes news@daily49er.com
ASI Social Justice Market @ Speaker’s Platform 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sports Editor Arts and Life Editor Opinions Editor
Mark Lindahl sports@daily49er.com Saad Kazi arts@daily49er.com Perry Continente opinions@daily49er.com
Advertising Manager Steven Zuniga advertising@daily49er.com Business Manager Special Projects Editor Copy Editor Design Editor University Theatre MOVE: History of a Hand Directed by Ezra LeBank Nov. 21 to Dec. 8 @ Studio Theater
By Alejandro Vazquez
Shark Bites is a CSULB inspired crossword puzzle that contains clues from the recent news stories published by the Daily Forty-Niner. Tag us @daily49er with a picture of your completed crossword for a chance to win a prize!
Down 1. Trever Irish is ______ feet tall. 2. The archery team is preparing for the championship in____. 3. City where Trever Irish is from. 5. One of the off-campus shuttles goes to this offcampus dormitory. 6. Club ____ held its final day to the public Nov. 30.
Across 4. Only state where prostitution is legal. 5. Novice archers are advised to use this types of bow 7. A term adopted by some who drink but choose to drink less. 8. This CSULB landmark building had to be patched up due to leaks.
Alejandro Vazquez Ryan Guitare
Social Media Editor
Brenna Enos
Video Editor
Aubrey Balster
Online Editor
Nahid Ponciano
Podcast Editor
Emma Carlsen
Arts and Life Assistant Editor
Shark Bites
Hannah Getahun Rachel Barnes
Photo Editor
Webmaster Interested in having an event featured in the Daily Forty-Niner? Email design@daily49er.com for details
Melissa Valencia business@daily49er.com
Samantha Hangsan Alexandra Apatiga
Arts and Life Assistant
Suzane Jlelati
Assistant Sports Editor
Manuel Valladares
Assistant Sports Editor
Ralston Dacanay
Assistant Social Media Editor Cristal Gomez Design Adviser
Gary Metzker
Content Adviser
Barbara Kinglsey-Wilson
Advertising and Business Adviser
Jennifer Newton
Letters to Editor editor@daily49er.com Corrections correction@daily49er.com Story Ideas tips@daily49er.com Job Inquiries jobs@daily49er.com
Letters Policy: All letters and emails must bear the phone number of the writer and must be no more than 300 words. The Daily Forty-Niner reserves the right to edit letters for publication in regard to space. Editorials: All opinions expressed in the columns, letters, and cartoons in the issue are those of the writers or artists. The opinons of the Daily FortyNiner are expressed only in unsigned editorials and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the journalism department or the views of all staff members. All such editorials are written by the editorial board of the Daily Forty-Niner.
Follow us @daily49er
MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | NEWS@DAILY49ER.COM
NEWS 3
JACOB POWERS | Daily Forty-Niner
Brandy Crump, a CSULB shuttle program driver, prepares for another day of work driving the West Loop route through campus.
Behind the ride CSULB shuttle drivers say they love their jobs and love seeing students working hard for their futures. By Jacob Powers Staff Writer @ jaypowers__
A
t 4:30 a.m. the Long Beach State campus shuttles are fueled up for another day of student transportation.
Students flashing their sticker-bearing student ID cards boarding the Los Coyotes shuttle are greeted by driver Melvin Love’s warm smile and sincere “good morning.” Contracted by LAZ Parking, Love was hired at the beginning of the fall semester. In his 20 years prior to working at CSULB, Love has worked as a driver for Orange County Transportation Authority, California State University, Dominguez Hills and Loyola Marymount University. “I love coming to work, for me this is a lot of fun,” Love said. “If kids want to get to school, I’ll get them there.” The CSULB campus shuttle program has three on-campus routes: East Loop, West Loop and the All-Campus Tripper. There are also two shuttles for off-campus residents: the Beachside shuttle and the Los Coyotes shuttle. Robyn Ames-Woodyard, director of parking and transportation said the shuttle program averages about 85,000 rides per semester.
“
“$1,163,110 [sic] was spent on shuttle services for the academic year, equating to about $500,000 a semester,” Ames-Woodyard said in an email. “The shuttle program regularly [assesses] shuttle demand and does its best to adjust accordingly.”
“I’m thinking if students knew our wait time schedules, there would be less complaints,” Love said. “Calls have cut down a lot when I’ve given students the mandatory break time schedule of drivers. If we’re late, it’s usually only a few minutes and we make the time up between routes.”
Love said the best part of his job is interacting with polite students even though they may be tired or in a rush.
West Loop shuttle driver Brandy Crump has been driving students around campus for nearly two years and she has a total of 20 years of experience in public transportation.
“I always thought it interesting in today’s society people can learn a lot from public transportation,” Love said. “Here on this shuttle we are a family. Everyone on board is going towards the same goal of bettering their future.” Byanca Williams, a fourth-year recreation therapy major, said the Los Coyotes shuttle gives her a way to school that she wouldn’t typically have. “I don’t have a car so the shuttle is perfect,” Williams said. “Before the shuttle and transits were free, now they charged us $45 this semester and it was hard to obtain. I feel the parking situation is affecting more than just the students.” The Los Coyotes shuttle can seat up to 35 people and it usually fills up around 9 a.m., according to Love. Ames-Woodyard said 519 permits for the Los Coyotes shuttle were sold this semester. This semester the drivers have experienced an influx of complaint calls about shuttles drivers’ long breaks. Drivers are given a schedule they have to follow to make sure they are always on time.
Crump has developed regulars that pick up conversations where they left off over the last two years. Her dedication to being on time is appreciated by most of her riders. Diana Boreon, a fourth-year international studies student, said the shuttles are comfortable and convenient. “The shuttles are always on time and I’ve never had an issue,” Boreon said. “With the ride systems app, we can track where shuttles are and what time they are coming and I find it really useful.” The ride system app allows students to use real-time GPS tracking to locate any of the shuttles in operation on campus. Crump said she appreciates the politeness of students that use good manners when boarding and getting off the shuttle. “I enjoy seeing students working hard for their future. It inspires me to call my son and ask him when he’s getting back to school,” Crump said.
I love coming to work, for me this is a lot of fun. If kids want to -Melvin Love get to school, I’ll get them there. Shuttle Driver
”
4 NEWS
MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | NEWS@DAILY49ER.COM
Many students at CSULB say they are “sober curious,” which means they’re choosing to drink less.
Graphic by RACHEL BARNES
Ditching drinking For some CSULB students, drinking is just not worth the risks. Research shows more young adults are staying away from booze.
By Ammi Ruiz Staff Writer
A
lcohol is poison. At least that’s what Keir Bildgen, a second-year mechanical engineering major, thinks.
“It’s not something I want to put in my body, just in general,” she said. “There’s really no benefit for me to drink.” Bildgen,19, is part of a minority of young adults who don’t drink alcohol. In recent years the idea of living life without alcohol, or with less alcohol, has gained momentum.
the past month compared to 49.9% of others the same age. Niloofar Bavarian, an assistant professor in the Department of Health Science, said the impact of alcohol use in the college population is well documented. Bavarian cited a National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism study that showed over 1,800 student deaths were alcohol-related, including vehicle crashes. “In addition to mortality, alcohol is associated with morbidity in the college population. Alcohol-related violence is also well-documented in the college population,” Bavarian said in an email.
In 2018, 55.1% of adults ages 18 to 25 reported being current alcohol users, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. That percentage is lower than in previous years from 2002 to 2017. The percentage of young adults who binge drink also dropped from 39% in 2015 to 34.9% in 2018.
The same study found that each year 696,000 students ages 18 to 24 are assaulted by another student who has been drinking, and 97,000 students in the same age group reported experiencing alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape.
Bildgen said she avoids alcohol mainly for health reasons, and she doesn’t think she’ll change her mind about it as she gets older.
Roughly 20% of college students meet the criteria for Alcohol Use Disorder, and 25% reported academic consequences from drinking.
“I feel strongly about it for myself,” Bildgen said. “In terms of other people, I would never tell other people what to do. I don’t think it’s morally wrong, but I personally don’t like the idea of doing something that alters my mental state.”
Ryan Lowe, a fourth-year accounting major, said the first time he consumed alcohol was when he was about 5 years old. He grabbed a cup of what he mistakenly thought was apple juice from a table at a park where older people were hanging out. He said he hasn’t had another drink since.
It’s no secret that alcohol can have serious negative effects on the human body, but its use is still prevalent among college students. In 2017 the NSDUH study showed that 53.6% of full-time college students ages 18 to 22 drank alcohol in
“Alcohol is something that is a can of worms that I’d rather just not open at all,” Lowe said. “Both in terms of I’d rather not have any, and I’d also rath-
er not put myself in situations where I become intoxicated. Just because, obviously, it puts you in a place where you’re vulnerable.” Lowe, 20, said his age is another motivator for not drinking. “I know I’m below the legal drinking age, and that it’s just unwise, in my opinion, to engage in it,” he said. “I have a lot that kind of tells me, ‘Hey, you shouldn’t do this, even if everyone else is.’” According to Lowe, the media’s portrayal of alcohol normalizes its consumption, which then desensitizes people from the risks involved in drinking. His own friends and coworkers have joked about getting him “wasted” for his 21st birthday, but he said that won’t happen. “For some people, it’s such a big thing that they do regularly,” he said. “I think that it’s kind of concerning, at least for those people, where that is the thing they do when they aren’t working or when they aren’t at school. Or, maybe it’s the immediate thing they jump to when they want to socialize.”
to drink less, whether that choice is permanent or temporary. It doesn’t apply to those who suffer from alcoholism. Fortado shared that one side of her family has had numerous issues with alcohol and drug use, and her mother is severely allergic to alcohol. These factors have contributed to her general avoidance of alcohol. Despite her friends sometimes encouraging her to drink and making suggestions of fruity drinks they think she might like, she considers herself sober by personal choice. “A glass of something here and there, alright, but I don’t think I would ever be the type of person who actively goes out and drinks, or opens a bottle at home and just relaxes, drinking while watching a movie or something,” Fortado said. But perhaps the biggest contributor of her choice to be mostly sober, she said, is the death of her older sister who was killed in a car accident in 2002 after the driver of the car she was in decided to drunkenly race along a cliff.
Angela Fortado, a third-year criminal justice major, isn’t one of those people who drinks alcohol regularly. She said she’s had about five drinks since she turned 21 years old. She’s now 25.
Out of the six people in the car, Fortado’s sister was the only one who passed away. She was 18 at the time. She was also the only one with no alcohol in her system.
“I consider myself the sober friend,” Fortado said. “I don’t really intend on drinking when going out, depending on where we’re going, I prefer to be aware and observant of surroundings.”
“My thoughts, with this in mind, [are] that I would never want to allow myself to get into a position like that, where one wrong choice to drink could be so detrimental to someone else,” she said. “It’s a deep paranoia that I don’t think I would put my own or someone else’s life at risk just to ‘have a good time’ going out drinking.”
Fortado wasn’t sure her experience with alcohol would fall under sober or “sober curious,” a term that has been adopted by some people who drink but choose
NEWS 5
MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | NEWS@DAILY49ER.COM
Sexual harassment, suspicious activity and stalking By Ramon Alvarado Staff Writer
Sexual Harassment A Long Beach State student walked into the University Police Department Nov. 18 to let officers know her boyfriend recorded sexual acts between the two without her consent and threatened to post them online. The student and the UPD are investigating the issue to figure out how to best deal with the situation.
GRAPHIC BY MIGUEL MARTINEZ
Vandalism A worker for the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies called the UPD Nov. 20 to let them know one of the televisions in the Engineering and Technology-1 building has been damaged. The worker told UPD officers that the television looks like it was “punched.” The UPD took a report but there are no leads or suspects.
Stalking A CSULB employee let officers know that she feels she is being stalked. She said she believes the man was a student at CSULB last year, but is not sure if he still is. The man has shown up to her office and has been emailing her. The UPD officer who took her report determined the situation did not meet the criteria for stalking and she was given Title IX information. Suspicious Activity The UPD’s K-9 unit went out at about 4:30 p.m. to check a backpack that was left at one of the West Loop bus stops Nov. 18. The caller that reported the backpack said it had been at the bus stop unattended for about 20 minutes. The K-9 unit arrived and found only a laptop and a game system inside the backpack. It was turned in to the lost and found. A suspicious man was reported walking around the Dance Center the afternoon of Nov. 21. He was described as a 5’9” white male with a medium
build and blonde hair, wearing blue pants and a brown shirt. Officers found the man at the Dance Center and he was escorted off-campus but no arrest was made. Hit-and-Run A student returned to his car from class and found white scratches on the rear bumper of his Toyota Camry Nov. 20. A witness was able to get the license plate number of the car that hit the Camry and left a note with the information. The UPD is investigating the situation. The UPD is on the lookout for a black Acura 4-door that was stolen from lot E1 Nov. 20. The employee left the car parked at 11:30 a.m. and it was gone when they returned around 7:30 p.m. UPD officers entered the car’s info into a state-wide computer system for theft and have detectives working on the case.
Patching up the Pyramid The leak repairs are in response to heavy rains from last year. By Austin Brumblay Editor in Chief @abrumblay Contractors scaled the northwest face of the Walter Pyramid Tuesday to perform scheduled water-proofing due to an apparent leak. The maintenance was part of “Phase Two” of the Pyramid roof repair, according to Danny Houp, project coordinator of Beach Building Services. “We’re addressing leaks in various locations of the Pyramid,” Houp said. “They’re new leaks from the heavy rain we had last year. There were a lot of repercussions from that rain.” Houp added that the water-proofing was not in response to the anticipated rain Wednesday. “The repair was recommended by a consultant, so we attempted partial repairs to see how that would work, and it worked quite well,” he said. The repairs were performed by two riggers from a private contracting company, Versatile Systems. The company was contracted by the university and was the same crew that performed the repairs last year for a leak that occurred over the center court of the Pyramid. According to Johnny Solorzano, one of the riggers, working on the Pyramid poses additional challenges compared to a “traditional skyrise.”
AUSTIN BRUMBLAY | Daily Forty-Niner
(Top) Johnny Solorzano (left) and Maher Maker (right) scale the Walter Pyramid to perform roof repair Tuesday, Nov. 19. (Above) Johnny Solorzano of Versatile Systems performs leak-proofing maintenance at the vertex of the Walter Pyramid
“It’s definitely different from what we usually do,” Solorzano said. “We do a lot of skyscraper buildings where it’s just up and down. The pitch makes it interesting.” Houp said contractors will perform a leak test in mid-December when riggers will douse the Pyramid with hoses and infrared readings will be taken inside to check the humidity. “We might get a small test tomorrow with the rain,” Houp said as he laughed with the crew.
6 ARTS & LIFE
MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2019 | DAILY49ER.CO
Gay bar closur through c
A historic home of the LGBT reminder of it
By Perry Continente Opinions Editor
“All the good times, tha a lot of fun and nice peo friends,” Will said.
W
Will remembers many t sparked conversations t lationships. He views ba of the last places where sation is accepted and e
ill C., a patron of Club Ripples since the ’90s and a bartender since 2001, found Long Beach’s longest-running gay bar a welcoming home to many in the LGBTQ+ community back when other venues were exclusionary. And home is exactly what many of the community during that time needed. Now accepting of the queer community, Long Beach was once a place of contempt for homophobic community members who would vandalize the club and send police to harass patrons.
AUSTIN BRUMBLAY | Daily Forty-Niner
(Clockwise from top left) Patrons line up to enter Club Ripples’ closing party, Saturday, Nov. 30. Marco Gallardo, 48, looks at the Ripples’ “End of an Era” poster on the wall at the gay club, Saturday, Nov. 30. Two men hug on the dance-floor at Club Ripples Saturday, Nov. 30.
On Ocean Boulevard, fa sides by upscale housing two-story structure wit under a dramatically slo
Ripples echoes its dom It is, or was, laid out ver feels more like the best than a traditional bar.
“In my younger years, going out to the gay bars as a younger gay person, it was my favorite thing,” he said. Will described gay bars as “welcoming, safe and friendly,” in a time when most people were hostile to LGBTQ+ people.
Rather than tables, blac line the walls and the comfortable seating ma home.
After 47 years of serving Long Beach, Club Ripples closed its doors for the final time Dec. 1.
Beyond Ripples, the sp been a bastion of LGBT the community since th
Beyond acceptance, Will has found many meaningful connections at Ripples.
The building was purch in an attempt to rid th after Club Oceania, ano
OM | @DAILY49ER | ARTS@DAILY49ER.COM
re sends ‘ripples’ community
TQ+ community’s last day is a ts vibrant past.
at is what I remember. I’ve met ople, some have become lifelong
times where working at the bar that led to more meaningful rears, especially gay bars, as some this sort of spontaneous converencouraged.
acing the sea and flanked on all g, the building stands apart. The th an inviting robin’s-egg door oped frame holds the club.
mestic exterior with its structure. ry differently from most bars. It house party you’ve ever been to
ck couches, chairs and ottomans outside patio; heat lamps and ake the club feel even more like
pace at 5101 E. Ocean Blvd. has TQ+ rights and a safe space for he 1950s.
hased by John Agar in the 1960s he space of its LGBTQ+ identity other gay bar, closed.
It was bought in 1972 by a group of gay men who converted it into the first gay dance club, called Ripples at the time, in the city. Club Ripples has been open for 47 years, but changed ownership to couple John Garcia and Larry Hebert in 1974. By 1994, they owned the bar and the liquor store on site. Although Ripples faced a declining customer base in recent years, its final night was a return to its heyday of crowded, lively nights. Ripples used to be packed every night. “We used to be busier than this for years, on certain nights we used to have a line out the door and down to the liquor store pretty often,” Will said. “We had one night called ‘Bear Bar’ where six to eight hundred people would come.” Will mentioned that nights like “Bear Bar,” had the club overflowing, something that Ripples has lacked in the new millennium. After the bar’s heyday in the ’90s, however, it became a struggle to fill the establishment. What once felt like a raucous house party was conspicuously empty. The bar used to see over 800 people inside at once, but in the new millennium saw abandoned dance floors and anemic bars.
ARTS & LIFE 7
Saturday, Club Ripples recaptured its former glory. The bar was packed for the first time in years. Will said that the club being crowded on its final night was emblematic of the impact it had on the community. “It says to me that even though people haven’t been here for many years, it tells me that they have good memories about what they experienced here, I’ve seen a lot of people here that I haven’t seen in years,” he said. Gary Espinoza has been a patron since the ’90s, along with Will, and returned for the club’s final day. “I can understand the owners are tired, this place has been open for 47 years. I just recently came back. I’ve known Will a long time, for like 25, 30 years. He and I used to come here back in the day,” Espinoza said. Espinoza has seen many iconic gay bars disappear, and views Ripples as one of the major closures. “Laguna Beach, Boom Boom Room, and Ozz in Buena Park were the other options and they closed,” he said. “This is the last bastion... All that’s left really is if you go up to LA.” Espinoza discussed his long-time partner who recently passed away. “I came out late; I came out when I was 39…my partner who I was with for 30 years died of a heart attack right in front of me,” he said. Espinoza experienced a deep depression for months but experienced a reprieve when he came out to his son, who was accepting. “The new generation, they don’t care anymore. They’re either gay or bi themselves or they know somebody,” he said. Espinoza mentioned the recent influx of straight couples in gay bars, something many people deride, but he supports.
“Gay bars are the best bars,” he said. “They have the best music, they have the best light shows, they have the best bartenders. And they have the best damn drinks, bar none. I’ve been to almost every bar in the area...there’s just no comparison” After years of serving the LGBTQ+ community in Long Beach, the place will be turned into a gastropub called the Burger and Beer Joint. John Wick has been a regular customer for the last three years after moving to Long Beach and bemoaned the closing of the location. “This is the only location in the whole strip of Belmont that’s on the beach that has a restaurant or a bar,” Wick said. Although he was happy that the beachside would feature another bar and restaurant, saying that the location was perfect, Wick felt that Ripples would be difficult to replace. “I’m kinda sad about [this],” he said. “There’s really no place like Ripples.” Wick would miss Ripples’ more unique offerings. “Once or twice a month they would do drag shows up there and it was awesome,” he said. Wick wasn’t alone in his sentiments; first-time visitor Patrika Darbo was sad to see the closure of another inclusive establishment. “If we can support one another—that’s the most important thing to me—we support one another,” she said. “Be gay be straight whatever. We support one another and that’s the most important thing in the world.” Darbo emphasized the importance of places that prize inclusivity and kindness. “Whether [or not] Ripples is closing at this moment, there are plenty of other places for us to go and you should go there,” she said. “Embrace each other. Enjoy one another.” Hannah Getahun contributed to this article.
8 OPINIONS
MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | OPINIONS@DAILY49ER.COM
Spill the Tea is a weekly section for students to share their opinions and make their voices heard. Long Beach State students answer questions that can range from the silly to the political. We at the Daily Forty-Niner value the diverse opinions of the CSULB student body and look forward to you sharing them with us. This week students share their experiences with holiday food and their memories associated with it. Reporting and photos by Joel Ruditsky What is your favorite holiday food and why? Is there any family connection?
Name: Christian Popoca Major: Fourth-year history
Name: Anita Okogbue Major: First-year undeclared
“My girlfriend at the time had a cousin that made this spicy ham, and I usually don’t like ham at all. I prefer beef for whatever reason, but I love spicy food, so I decided to try it out. It was a hit, so every Thanksgiving I used to go over just for the ham. Last year when I found out her cousin wasn’t there, I didn’t go because I knew the ham wasn’t going to be there. Now I want some ham.”
“My favorite holiday meal would have to be jollof rice, Nigerian style. No other form, just Nigerian. It’s steamed onions, tomatoes, peppers and you let the rice boil in it. Then you put it in the oven and it’s just right because I can taste all the stew, peppers and all the flavors. It’s bomb. After you taste my mom’s cooking you’d want her to be your mom.”
Name: Makayla Wang Major: Third-year international business
Name: Hassam Khan Major: Third-year kinesiology
“My favorite holiday meal is Chinese sticky rice because I am half Chinese and it’s really nostalgic because I have had it ever since I was little. My grandma usually makes it. It’s special because you can’t really get in the stores, so it’s just a holiday family recipe.”
“For the holidays I usually like beef and baked potatoes, not so much turkey. For our holidays though we have a special dish called biryani. It’s made out of rice, chicken, vegetables and mixed together with Indian spices. Whoever I have given the dish to they always ask for more.”
OPINIONS 9
MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | OPINIONS@DAILY49ER.COM
Make prostitution legal and safe
Legal sex work is salacious
By Kaleen Luu Staff Writer
By Joy Rowden Staff Writer
W
T
e need protection for sex, and I’m not talking about contraceptives. I have memories of visiting Sin City when I was younger, taking the family van on a trip across the desert to an oasis of glitz and glamour. My mother rushed me through the thick smog of the weathered casinos, telling me to not pay attention to the dazed expressions of the adults perched on swivel chairs in front of slot machines that promised riches beyond compare. I caught glimpses of glittered décolletage and sparkly stilettos beneath a flurry of feathers of the women that would saunter through the casino, leaving a swath of perfume in their wake. America, get real about sex work. It’s 2019 and prostitution needs to be made legal in the states. Prostitution is one of the most dangerous vocations; the death rate in the United States is 204 people for every 100,000. Incidents of prostitutes being physically attacked happen on a regular basis, and they often have nowhere to turn to for help. Of all the states in the U.S., Nevada is the only state where prostitution is legal. It is illegal in most states not because of federal laws; prostitution is subject to state regulations. Even so, regulated and legal brothels exist only in some rural areas of Nevada, despite the fact that the sex trade is everywhere. Prostitution exists in the rest of the states in a very hush-hush manner, and because they have to operate around the law, there is no real way to track people. Keeping the sex trade illegal is harmful to the workers and the victims of sex trafficking. Sex traffickers coercion victims using threats, manipulation and lies. They may lure in victims by making false promises of a job, preying on people who are desperate for a job, masquerading it under the pretense of a modeling or dancing opportunity. These people force both adults and children against their will to engage in commercial sex acts. Children are suffering because states want to sweep the sex trade under the rug. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children estimated in 2018 that 1 in 7 runaway youths were likely victims of sex trafficking. If prostitution was legal, people could work safely— without fear that they will be beat, raped or tortured in the sex trade because they are operating around the law. The vocation is valid; people partake in the services but don’t want to admit that the workers are human and deserve to feel safe at work. Pimps and sex traffickers take advantage of their monopoly on prostitution by manipulating children through physical, emotional and psychological abuse. It’s especially important in the age of the internet, where it’s easy for these abusers to facilitate this kind of horrible exploitation. Aside from victims forced into commercial sex, there are also people who choose their profession as a sex worker. For adults who want their livelihood to be in sex work, they should be treated like those in any other profession. Their work should not be criminalized just because of some moral standards, this is the courts, not church. Especially when some forms of sex work—pornography—is legal. Especially when their clients don’t face the same penalties. Especially when it’s happening now. Prostitution does not cease to exist because it is illegal, it just operates under the guise of other shops. Making it a criminal offense only drives sex work underground, where it’s difficult for people to survive. Sex workers are unable to report abuse to the law because of the risk of incriminating themselves and being penalized. They are forced to stay silent because their circumstances don’t allow them to safely operate with the support of the law. If sex work is going to happen, it should be under the worker’s own accord. Their health and safety should be prioritized, not tucked away in the shadows because of the social stigma and sex shame. Prostitution needs to be legitimized. Workers need to be licensed and medically inspected. Human rights should not be violated based on someone’s occupation. Nevada is known as “the Silver State” but if the U.S. wants to go for gold, it’s time to make that leap to legalize the sex trade. As a child, I only saw a carnival of bright lights, but lurking beneath the smoke and mirrors of the city’s nightlife, is a violent fight. Save the sex shame and save people instead.
here is nothing glamorous about prostitution. Most parents—if not all parents—would not want their daughters or sons becoming prostitutes out of survival or out of aspiration. Their child is worth more than any price tag. The sex industry can be enticing with its promises of easy cash. Fame and fortune come at faster rates to women who sell their bodies as opposed to women who do not. Many women know this and rely on selling themselves when they are in dire financial situations. A lot of these women are struggling to take care of their children. Some of them are homeless and have no other viable job options. They are also victims of sex and substance abuse. Pimps prey upon this vulnerability and desperation to lure women into prostitution. Nevada is the only state in the United States where prostitution is legal. The state has placed numerous restrictions to help regulate the industry. For example, the only counties in Nevada that can legalize prostitution must have fewer than 700,000 people. Prostitutes are required by the state to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases before and during their employment with a brothel. Advertising is also limited for brothels to areas where prostitution is legal. Prostitutes can also refuse to service a customer. Despite this, the majority of prostitutes are still participating in illegal prostitution in Nevada. Prostitution—legal or illegal—negatively impacts the emotional and physical wellbeing of women. Legalization might make it somewhat safer for women, but it cannot eliminate all the dangers and risks that come with the profession. According to the CDC, people who exchange sexual favors for money are at a higher risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases. In Nevada, legal prostitutes are required to use condoms, but according to Planned Parenthood, condoms only have an 85% effectiveness rate because people use them incorrectly. Condoms used properly have a 98% success rate. There is also a power dynamic between brothel owners and prostitutes. Women might find themselves in a quid pro quo situation, but it would go unnoticed because that’s the industry. If it is hard for the average woman to prove that she has been raped, wouldn’t you think it would be even more difficult for a prostitute to prove that she had been raped on the job? Prostitutes are exposed to a higher chance of potentially being raped because their job is to exchange sex with strangers, and this would not change with legalization. Do you think the owners of legal brothels will admit to the rape and assault cases that occur? Probably not. Human trafficking demands an increase in areas that legalize prostitution. This disproportionately affects women and children the most. Many women who were trafficked as minors become prostitutes later in their adult life and become desensitized to the trauma they have faced. Some women find the sex industry empowering, but for many women, they were forced into prostitution against their will and continue to struggle within the system. According to a 2011 study on sex trafficking, the practice is most common in countries where prostitution is legal. If prostitution is legalized, it will enable human trafficking pimps who traffic individuals into prostitution to go more unnoticed, which makes it harder to determine what is illegal. Nothing is empowering about a career that is exploitative, dangerous and stigmatized. Prostitution as a career has a shelf-life because consumers want women who are youthful and beautiful. Legalizing something does not always make it safe or right — it just becomes legally acceptable. If people are forced into this industry due to a lack of job opportunities and education, then you would think the best option would be to create more of those opportunities available, instead of pushing women into this field through legalization.
CSULB 2020
WINTER SESSIONS focus forward finish
YOUR MORNING COMMUTE JUST GOT BETTER Tune in every Monday morning to Beach Weekly, a news and sports podcast by the Daily Forty-Niner at Long Beach State. Get your weekly news update at the Beach with veteran host Hannah Getahun and her new partner Perry Continente. Join them as they discuss the biggest headline of the week.
Register Now! Session One
Session Two
Entirely Online December 18 – January 17
On Campus January 02 – January 17
cpie.csulb.edu/winter | (800) 963-2250 | CPIE-info@csulb.edu @CSULBInterSessn #csulbsessn
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
Your future made easy Proud supporter of Long Beach State
SPORTS 11
MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | SPORTS@DAILY49ER.COM
MORE THAN JUST A BULL’S EYE The Long Beach State archery club spends its days hitting targets with bows of choice and plenty of banter in between.
By Manuel Valladares Assistant Sports Editor @ mannyvaiiadares
S
hooting an accurate shot is by no means easy. In archery, rhythm and mechanics are important elements when taking aim. It takes a lot of dedication, motor skills and trust for an archer to consistently hit a target that is 30 to 50 yards away. This is one of the most difficult parts of competitive archery according to Long Beach State archery club president Michelle Nguyen. “It always an issue for everyone,” Nguyen said. “You’re always shooting against yourself, so if your shots are not good you get into that [negative] mindset where you are blaming yourself.”
MANUEL VALLADARES | Daily Forty-Niner
“We start with shooting technique… which is like a step by step way to shoot,” Connor said. “You can take a pretty complex shot process and break it into digestible chunks.” Archers can only focus on so many things when shooting, which is why the coaching staff has worked to instill these techniques into each member so it becomes second nature. The time and attention each player receives goes a long way on the field and in each person’s life. Third-year political science major and treasurer Will Ritchie found himself in love with the community and sense of belonging once he got involved in the club.
With many inexperienced members, it’s important to have a guiding force that not only helps the club improve their skills, but also keep positive energy throughout.
“It’s been one of the defining moments so far in my college life,” Ritchie said. “Just to be close with a group of people it’s really fulfilling. Really made the college experience a lot better for me personally.”
Archery club coach Jason Connor found his passion for archery 40 years ago when he took free lessons at the Pasadena Roving Archers and has been infatuated with the sport ever since.
Ritchie would go about his business like most do, yet going through the motions wasn’t fulfilling enough as he knew he could get more out of his time at the Beach.
“I started coaching for the Marine Corps Wounded Warriors Battalion West about 10 years ago,” Connor said. “I’ve taught here for about a year and a half...I like working with collegiate archery it’s a lot of fun.”
“I did not really feel like I was really enjoying college,” Ritchie said. “[I was] just studying my major. Even doing these extracurriculars, doing clubs [like archery] to relax a bit, that’s so really big for me.”
The team recruits at Smorgasport and Week of Welcome. At this year’s Smorgasport, the club had a small range for students to test their archery skills and expand interest in the club.
Having joined the club last year, Ritchie felt somewhat comfortable with a bow after spending time in the Boy Scouts of America. The experience in his youth is what propelled him to join the archery club, but the camaraderie is what keeps bringing him back.
“Last year when I joined, the president didn’t actively put much attention into recruiting so [the team] was fairly small,” Nguyen said. “But this year I wanted to build a larger base…so right now we have close to 60 members and within that, we have 30 who compete.”
Long Beach State archery treasurer Will Ritchie prepares to shoot an arrow at practice Tuesday, Nov. 19.
Most beginners are advised to use barebow because of its simplistic handle that allows beginners to learn the basics of archery. After this, they pick from the different bows and their respective styles.
The most difficult challenge is to keep people coming to practices and competing. When new members get a taste of the club, they are introduced to the three types of bows they will be competing with: recurve, compound and barebow.
“Really, it’s the people, not so much the archery itself,” Ritchie said. “Being a part of a family, really is what makes it fun, made me really want to come back.” The team has been preparing for an archery championship that takes place in January 2020 as well as other competitions that will begin early next year.
12 SPORTS
MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2019 | DAILY49ER.COM | @DAILY49ER | SPORTS@DAILY49ER.COM
BIG MAN
ON CAMPUS Overcoming his childhood experience in foster care, annual shoe size changes and several significant injuries, Trever Irish looks to play his best basketball at the Beach for years to come.
By Ralston Dacanay Assistant Sports Editor @ RalstonDacanay
A
MARK LINDAHL | Daily Forty-Niner
Seven-foot-tall sophomore center Trevor Irish towers over the iconic 6-foot-tall GO BEACH sign Wednesday, Nov. 20. Irish has spent his life adjusting to changes on and off the court.
From the ages of 11 to 17, Irish’s shoe size increased annually. From 14 years old onward, it was “ridiculous to find shoes,” and he had to take out the insoles of smaller pairs to make them fit.
t 7 feet tall and 230 pounds, one of his size-17 sneakers is more than enough to fill the deck of his Razor scooter. Trever Irish has as good of a reason as any to zip past others while zooming across campus.
By the time he was a senior at Valley Prep, Irish stood nearly 7 feet tall before his growth spurt began to slow. Finally able to adapt to his center of gravity and understand the factors that change with a growing body, Irish played his first year of organized basketball.
Traveling from his Parkside College Dormitory room to classes on upper campus and practice at the Walter Pyramid, the Long Beach State sophomore center has smoothly transitioned to his new home—a process he’s been accustomed to after growing up in foster care.
As a raw prospect, Irish showed flashes of the skill and toughness required to play at the collegiate level. Despite receiving minimal scouting, in part due to being an academic risk, Irish was offered to play at the junior college level by a teacher at his high school who was also an assistant
“Initially when I got picked up, I was in second grade,” Irish said. “I thought it was one of my sisters, and then it was some random lady. She was a social worker, so I was really confused. I was 7 years old, so I didn’t know all the details.” Moving around and not being home became the norm for the Lewiston, Maine, native, but other aspects of the living arrangement were tougher to adjust to. “One of the difficult parts was having to explain why I don’t live with my family,” Irish said. “Like, ‘I live with people that I don’t call mom or dad.’ That was until I was in eighth grade, so it was other kids I have to explain that to.” After completing middle school, Irish left his foster family in the New England area to attend Valley Prep Academy in Arizona. However, changing area codes and scenery would be the least of Irish’s new growing pains. Prior to his freshman year of prep school, Irish grew from 6-foot to 6 foot 5 inches tall over the summer, only noticing after his doctor showed him his growth chart. “There was a senior when I was a freshman who was like, ‘All the freshmen are getting smaller,’ and he was like [5 foot 7 inches],” Irish said. “I was standing behind him and one of his friends tapped on his shoulder and pointed and he was like ‘Oh crap.’ Throughout all of high school, I was the tallest kid.”
coach at the neighboring Central Arizona College. As a freshman for the Vaqueros, Irish impressed scouts while averaging nearly a double-double with 14.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and over two blocks in 30 games. “The best thing that I said to Trev’ when I first saw him was his ability to run up and down the floor,” Long Beach State assistant coach Senque Carey said. “The game that I saw him play, he didn’t score that many points, but he had 16 rebounds which was all I needed to see at the time.” Shortly after verbally committing to be the Beach’s first 7-footer since Mike Vantrimpont in the 2011-12 season, Irish’s career appeared to take a downswing. With
“
Initially, when I got picked up I was in second grade. I thought it was one of my sisters, and then it was some random lady. She was a social worker, so I was really confused. I was 7 years old, so I didn’t know all the details.
”
Long Beach’s coaching staff’s approval, he decided to redshirt and return for one more year at Central Arizona, but was only able to play in three games before missing the rest of the season with a back injury. This past summer, Irish’s initial arrival at the Beach threatened to extend his yearlong absence from basketball. “Trever’s biggest issue is that he has not played in two years,” head coach Dan Monson said before the start of the season. “He did not play because of a bad back all last season. Then this summer with Costa Rica, he was still in summer school, and as soon as he got here he pulled a hamstring. We gotta get Trever healthy and then up to speed.” Irish said he’s learned to “control the controllables,” and be patient after his new coaches redemonstrated their trust in him and his road to recovery. “You only have a small percentage of your life to play basketball,” Irish said, “so I want to get the most out of it, especially at a high collegiate level. Honestly, I could have gone and made it worse and still be out now or not even be able to play anymore. It tested my patience, but at the same time it made me realize there’s more.” Staying committed in practices on the sideline with non-contact drills, stationary bicycles and more during the rest of the offseason, Irish has worked his way into playing in all four games for the Beach thus far. “Big-time work ethic,” Carey said of Irish. “[He] wants to be the best he can. He’s a perfectionist. His best basketball is ahead of him. He’s only been playing organized ball three years, so I just try to get him in a comfortable zone to allow him to play his skill level, get him to be more aggressive, get him to play more speed of the game, but it’s coming.” Off the court, Irish’s newfound love for UFC and friendly suitemates have helped his transition in class and around campus as a consumer affairs major and first-time dorm resident.
— Trever Irish Center
“If you’re hungry or something, they’ll be like, ‘Hey, I got food,’” Irish said. “It works with everyone. They’re not just like, ‘We gotta kiss up to a basketball player.’ No, they’re like that with everybody. They’re pretty cool. Shoutout Q Building.”